Things to Remember About Driving in the Snow

Note from Lana | Lifestyle Queen Bee: I. HATE. Winter. Yes, I am Canadian and should be used to the snow, freezing rain and icy winds. But I’m not and I can’t say I ever will. As a child, I would avoid going outside at all costs which meant I wasn’t really all that into building snowmen & forts or going sledding or skating. It took too much effort to bundle myself up and by the time I that first bit of cold crept in, I was ready to call it a day and come inside for my cup of hot chocolate. Fast forward to present day, and I still avoid going outside at all costs. The only problem is I don’t have the luxury of working from home and therefore, have to drive to and from work which means a lot of winter driving. It can be scary driving in a snowstorm when the roads are slippery and you’re seeing cars go into ditches all around you. Even the best drivers can easily find themselves in a predicament thanks to the icy conditions that’s why preparing yourself in advance for winter driving is crucial to prevent any kinds of accidents. No worries, as Guest Blogger, Alek Sabin, has got you covered with some key tips to help prepare you for driving in this less than winter wonderland conditions.

We’re about to enter into the heart of winter. That means the snow is about to drop, and our roads are about to become a vast network of icy death slides.

Around this time of year, driving becomes a far more dangerous activity, as many people in the general population struggle with driving in the snow, either because of their own inexperience, apathy to learn, or simply because their vehicle cannot handle the elements that they are driving in. The roads during winter can be a lot safer if we all take some time to drive a little bit better in the dangerous conditions.

Here is a list of things to remember about driving in the snow in winter:

Switch to Winter Tires

Your tires are the connection between your vehicle and road, and often make the difference between whether or not you’re able to have full control of the stop and go functions of your car. For this reason, it is important that your tires are outfitted to handle the wet and cold conditions.

To do this, it is highly recommended that you make the switch to winter tires, which are made of a pliable rubber that doesn’t harden up in the cold. On top of that, it is important to take your tires in to get a rotation, the right amount of air pressure for winter, and other tire maintenance.

The Extra Brightness Can Be A Hazard

Although there is less daylight during the winter (because the days are shorter), a bright and sunny day during the winter time is actually going to be a lot brighter than it is in the summertime. This is because the ground is likely to be covered in white snow, which is highly reflective and bounces sunlight at you from different directions. This added brightness can be a major driving hazard.

To help you get around this issue, one thing that you can do is get a window tinting treatment done on your vehicle by a professional window tinting company.

Check The Weather Before Heading Out

It’s usually a lot easier to drive on snow that has already fallen, rather than head out in the middle of a snowstorm. For this reason, refrain from going out into a storm if you can avoid it. The decreased visibility of a snowstorm means that you more likely to be unable to reach a stop before hitting hazards in the road, since it will take you longer to see them, on top of the fact that freshly fallen snow is incredibly difficult to gain traction on.

Check the weather before driving somewhere. It’s usually not worth the risk to head somewhere when conditions are so harsh.

Avoid Slopes If Your Vehicle Can’t Handle It

If you’re going up or down a hill in the snow, especially if that road hasn’t been plowed, then you are going to need tires with excellent traction and a vehicle with AWD (All-Wheel Drive). If you don’t think your vehicle fits into this category, then park a little further away and walk to your destination, or try to find another route.

Going up a hill can make your vehicle get stuck if it can’t make it up, and going down a hill that you might not be able to stop has a high risk of getting into an auto accident.

Always Have Surplus Gasoline

It sucks to get stuck in the snow, but it is something that frequently happens in winter. Sometimes you might be able to dig your own car out of a snowy situation, but there are other times that you might need to wait for AAA or a family member to come and pull you out.

In case this happens to you, you’ll want to make sure that you can stay warm during that time, so always ensure that your vehicle has at least half of a tank of gasoline, so that you don’t find yourself freezing in the middle of nowhere while you wait for someone to come bail you out.

What driving tips do you have that help make winter driving a bit easier? Share below!

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